The Tunisia Effect - Continuing Coverage of the Revolutions of 2011

[innonimatu]

Well, it was the police and state security they went after, not the military in charge. It could perhaps be construed as mopping up operations?

In other news, Egypt got a new Prime Minister, Essam Sharraf, who joined the protests early and apparently has some street cred as a result. Also a public referendum about a (first) round of changes to the Egyptian constitution has now been scheduled to 19 March by the military authorities.

At least in Egypt the dictatorship really seems to be finished. If there was any intention (and ability!) within the army to keep up the military dictatorship they wouldn't have allowed the dismantling of the regime's political police. That, the new prime minister, and the acknowledgment of the real trade unions as partners within the new government all mark the beginning of a new era. Two on a good path, one probably lost, it can still be a good year for the people of North Africa.

The "west", neoliberal version, lost control over Egypt. If only at least some incriminating documents survived and could be published about the "security cooperation" by the american and certain european governments with the former regime... hoping that kind of public embarrassment is perhaps too much, They'll probably be used as insurance against foreign meddling.

 

[Rashiminos]

Probably more "discredited" documents than destroyed ones

 

[Silurian]

Big riot in Yemen

From Independent

About 2,000 inmates have staged a revolt at a prison in the capital of Yemen, taken a dozen guards hostage and joined calls by anti-government protesters for the country's president to step down, a Yemeni security official said.


He said the unrest in the Sanaa jail erupted late last night when prisoners set their mattresses ablaze and occupied the facility's courtyard.

He said the guards fired tear gas and gunshots into the air but could not subdue the inmates.
ablaze and occupied the facility's courtyard.

He said the guards fired tear gas and gunshots into the air but could not subdue the inmates.

 

[GamezRule]

I have a cousin currently under protection of the Yemeni Military. I hope he gets out, then they can have Democracy.

 

[Formaldehyde]

It is odd how the disaster in Japan has almost completely upstaged the unrest in the Middle East and Africa. Is Anderson Cooper stuck in a whilrpool halfway between the two stories?

 

[Joecoolyo]

Well, Japan is basically three stories bundled into one package. You're got the largest earthquake in the nations history, a devastating tsunami, and a nuclear crisis.

I'd be amazed if it hadn't upstaged the Middle Eastern revolutions.

 

[JollyRoger]

It is odd how the disaster in Japan has almost completely upstaged the unrest in the Middle East and Africa. Is Anderson Cooper stuck in a whilrpool halfway between the two stories?

They need to report on the fact that the quintessential missing white girl story is missing.

 

[Silurian]

From The Guardian

Saudi Arabia has moved decisively to bolster Bahrain's embattled royal family, sending military forces across the causeway linking the two kingdoms after violent weekend pro-democracy protests by Shia demonstrators all but overwhelmed police.

Although the deployment on Monday was at Bahrain's request and came under the guise of the Gulf Co-operation Council, whose other members also sent troops, it marked another stage in Saudi Arabia's reluctant emergence as the key regional policeman, at a time when the Arab world faces unprecedented turmoil.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...m4jeBg&usg=AFQjCNE_alpWPtBt9gmJ0M9bFWkMqg1Zdw

 

[Formaldehyde]

I'd be amazed if it hadn't upstaged the Middle Eastern revolutions.

That is really my point. It is as if the American public is largely incapable of following more than one event at a time. Politicians seem to count on this phenomenon to eventually deflect attention away from themselves and their acts.

What is particularly disturbing is that the worst offenders seem to be the 24/7 news channels. They could easily provide extended converage on a multitude of events instead of incessantly repeating the same facts over and over again. But they know it's all about ratings which directly impact how much they can charge for ad time. So they all play the same game of following whatever event currently has the most interest to the public while largely ignoring the rest.

It doesn't even have to be real news. The antics of Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, and even Paris Hilton seem to be sufficient to derail the process.

They need to report on the fact that the quintessential missing white girl story is missing.

Let's just hope she stays missing until CNN decides it is again time to have us vote on 3 important stories to determine which one they are going to tell us about.

 

[Incodcito]

I can't help but feel that 2011 will be known as the second year in which history failed to turn.

 

[El_Machinae]

From The Guardian



http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...m4jeBg&usg=AFQjCNE_alpWPtBt9gmJ0M9bFWkMqg1Zdw

Damnit.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I agree. That is really bad news, although it wasn't exactly unexpected that it might occur if things got serious.

 

[Joecoolyo]

That is really my point. It is as if the American public is largely incapable of following more than one event at a time. Politicians seem to count on this phenomenon to eventually deflect attention away from themselves and their acts.

What is particularly disturbing is that the worst offenders seem to be the 24/7 news channels. They could easily provide extended converage on a multitude of events instead of incessantly repeating the same facts over and over again. But they know it's all about ratings which directly impact how much they can charge for ad time. So they all play the same game of following whatever event currently has the most interest to the public while largely ignoring the rest.

It doesn't even have to be real news. The antics of Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, and even Paris Hilton seem to be sufficient to derail the process.

Well, after all, new is a business. And like every business, the first thing on their mind is profit, not information. And so, just like every other business out there, they need to keep interest high in order to keep profits high, and to do that they need throw out old, stale, stories, and instead throw in fresh new ones. So it Japan just happened to be that new, fresh story to grab everyone's attention again, and, well, with all the devastation and horrible things that have happened there, it rightly deserves to be, unlike Lohan or Sheen.

Also, this isn't limited to the American public, but rather, everywhere you go this happens. I mean, the BBC have downgraded the Libyan uprising from "Breaking News" to "Other stories".

 

[DroopyTofu]

That's the sad part. If the public could follow more than one story at a time, then more information would equal more profit. However, the mindset of "WTH, this Libya thing has been going on for weeks now, why don't they hurry up and do something" prevents more information from being profitable.

 

[Tee Kay]

Also, this isn't limited to the American public, but rather, everywhere you go this happens. I mean, the BBC have downgraded the Libyan uprising from "Breaking News" to "Other stories".

Even freaking Al Jazeera does it.

 

[Tee Kay]

Meanwhile, protesters against America's despotic allies left to fend for themselves away from the media attention.

Yemen

Dozens of people have been reported injured in Yemen as security forces used live fire and tear gas to disperse protesters demanding the ouster of president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Activists in the southern city of Taiz said police opened fire on pro-democracy protesters on Thursday, leaving many wounded.

Meanwhile, at least 20 people were injured in the capital, Sanaa, as security forces reportedly fired live bullets and tear gas at thousands of anti-government protesters camping outside a university.

The incidents came a day after at least 120 people were wounded in renewed clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters in the port city of al-Hudayah.

Ten protesters were shot, and dozens were stabbed and hit with rocks, a medical official told the Associated Press news agency.

Bahrain

Several opposition leaders and activists have been arrested in Bahrain following a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom.

State television said "leaders of the civil strife" had been arrested for communicating with foreign countries and inciting murder and destruction of property.

Among those arrested were Hassan Mushaima, who had returned last month from self-imposed exile in the UK after Bahraini authorities dropped charges against him, and Ibrahim Sharif, head of the Waad political society, a secular group comprising mostly Sunni members.

Also taken into custody early on Thursday was Abdul Jalil al-Singace, a leader of the Haq movement, who was jailed last August but was freed in late February as part of concessions by the Khalifa royal family to protesters.

It was too good to last.

 

[Silurian]

Things are heating up in Yemen
350 dead now since protests began
Now the presidential palace comes under attack nearly killing the president

from the BBC

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has broadcast a brief audio message, hours after being injured in an attack on his compound in the capital Sanaa.

Mr Saleh said he was well and urged the army to confront his tribal opponents, who he blamed for the attack.

Seven people were killed. The prime minister and the speaker of parliament were among several injured.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...07C0AQ&usg=AFQjCNEl4JGccq2mRY7FG0gA8jh-I3UmAA

 

[Lillefix]

With all the khat those guys are chewing I'm surprised they have strong opinions about anything. But go Yemenites I guess.

 

[Frozen In Ice]

Yemen is going to be a very chaotic place for a long time no matter who ends up winning this civil war.

 

[Silurian]

From The BBC

Yemeni officials have denied President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left the country, a day after he was injured in an attack on his compound in Sanaa.

Unconfirmed reports earlier said that Mr Saleh had flown to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Saleh had some shrapnel near his heart and second-degree burns on his chest and face, sources told the BBC.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...ouShAQ&usg=AFQjCNHmBGh07K7RxbPAfRTPwK8CXlFr9Q

It could end up going the way of Somalia